HARLEYVILLE - A highly decorated sheriff's deputy and his K-9 were killed Friday afternoon in a head-on collision on Interstate 26.

Dorchester County sheriff's Cpl. Mike Deese, 38, of Summerville died near the Harleyville exit of I-26, said Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet. Deese's working dog, Sonja, was in the back of his cruiser.

"This is a devastating incident that affects the entire Sheriff's Office," said Maj. Mike Turner.

Christopher Burnham Jr., 53, of Summerville, who drove the other vehicle in the 5:20 p.m. collision, was killed as well, Nisbet said. He said both men died instantly.

"It was one of the worst accidents I've seen in a long time," Nisbet said.

Deese and his former K-9 partner, Bailey, were shot in 2003 during a domestic call. Deese recovered from his wounds and that summer was named Deputy of the Year by the South Carolina Sheriff's

Association. He also received the association's Medal of Valor.

"He was an excellent officer," said Sgt. Michael Miller, sheriff's spokesman. "We're kind of a grieving family right now."

Miller said Deese, who was married with three children, worked in the Region 1 patrol division in upper Dorchester County.

The deputy was traveling westbound on I-26 when a pickup truck in an eastbound lane crossed over the median and ran head-on into Deese's cruiser, said Cpl. Paul Brouthers of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

The truck also struck several other vehicles and sent 27-year-old Desmona Brown, of Johns Island, to Trident Medical Center, Brouthers said. Brown was in stable condition and is expected to be released, according to the hospital. Three other patients were treated at the scene and declined to be taken to the hospital, said Dorchester County EMS Director Doug Warren.

No one was charged in the accident, which remains under investigation, Brouthers said.

On April 6, 2003, Deese was responding to a domestic disturbance near Knightsville when a woman flagged him down on Monarch Drive and told him her husband had a loaded shotgun. As they talked, a man emerged from bushes carrying a shotgun and opened fire. Although wounded, Deese returned gunfire from his cruiser. The gunman got away but was later captured and charged in the incident.

Deese was shot in the arm, and birdshot was lodged in his face and chest. Bailey, a bloodhound, was hit with pellets from the shotgun blast while in the rear of the cruiser and survived.

Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.